Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has temporarily grounded some buses of Nova Auto Transport after one of it's units figured in an accident in Quezon City over the weekend. LTFRB Chairman Atty. Ginez said they are placing 15 bus units of Nova Auto Transport under a 30 Day preventive Suspension following an accident along Commonwealth Ave. last Saturday. According to preliminary reports at least 44 people were injured after a speeding Nova Auto Transport bus lost control and hit a Safeway Bus and Marikina Autoline Bus around 6 am on Saturday. The LTFRB Enforcement Team yesterday confiscated the yellow plates of the suspended buses at the bus firm's terminal in Novaliches. Under the LTFRB's preventive suspension order Nova Auto Transport is obliged to subject it's suspended buses to a road worthiness test at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) while it's drivers undergo drug testing and attend mandatory road safety seminar at the National Center for Transportation Studies of the University of the Philippines. Nova Auto Transport gained a reputation as a magnet to road accidents following the death of veteran journalist and professor "Chit" Estella-Simbulan in 2011. A Nova Auto Transport Bus was racing with a Universal Guiding Star Bus along Commonwealth Ave. when it hit the cab carrying Simbulan. The LTFRB is expected to issue a similar preventive suspension order against the operator of the RRCG bus that overturned along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) last Monday. At least 45 passengers were reportedly injured and one of them even lost an arm after the ill fated bus lost one of it's tires near the Sta. Rosa Laguna exit of the SLEX at about 6:20 am. Based on LTFRB records from 2010 to 2011 bus companies involved in accidents leading to deaths in passengers, drivers or pedestrians in Metro Manila included NOVA Auto Transport, Admiral Transport, Jam Liner, Gasat Express, Joyselle Express, Philippine Corinthian Bus Liner Corp., Rainbow Express Inc., Albert Carating, Alps the Bus and Cem Transit Service.
